is measure, had found out too--by good
luck!--that he was in sore straits for money--mortgages on the paper,
gambling debts, and a host of other things--discovered a shrewd man to
play him, and made our bid! He rose to it like a gudgeon--gave us no
trouble whatever. I need not say, of course"--he added, looking up at
his son--"that I have shown you that paper in the _very strictest
confidence_. But it seemed to me it was my duty as a father to warn you
of the nature of some of your associates!"

"I understand," said George Denny, as, after a careful study of the
paper--which contained, for the help of the writer's memory, a list of
the sums paid and founders' shares allotted to the various "promoters"
of the new Syndicate--he restored it to its owner. "Well, I, father,
have _this_ to say in return. I came here to-night in the hope of
getting from you this very information, and in the public interest I
hold myself not only free but _bound_ to make public use of it, at the
earliest possible opportunity!"

The family scene may be imagined. But both threats and blandishments
were entirely lost upon the son. There was in him an idealist obstinacy
which listened to nothing but the cry of a _cause_, and he declared that
nothing would or should prevent him from carrying the story of the bribe
direct to Nehemiah Wilkins, Wharton's chief rival in the House, and so
saving the country and the Labour party from the disaster and disgrace
of Wharton's leadership. There was no time to lose, the party meeting in
the House was only two days off.

At the end of a long struggle, which exhausted everybody concerned, and
was carried on to a late hour of the night, Denny _pere_, influenced by
a desire to avoid worse things--conscious, too, of the abundant evidence
he possessed of Wharton's acceptance and private use of the money--and,
probably, when it came to the point, not unwilling,--under
compulsion!--to tumble such a hero from his pedestal, actually wrote,
under his son's advice, a letter to Wilkins. It was couched in the most
cautious language, and professed to be written in the interests of
Wharton himself, to put an end "to certain ugly and unfounded rumours
that have been brought to my knowledge." The negotiation itself was
described in the driest business terms. "Mr. Wharton, upon cause shown,
consented to take part in the founding of the Syndicate, and in return
for his assistance, was allotted ten founders' shares in the new
co